Part 17

Perhaps the most unique point in Mr. Michaud’s public career is its cause. Like many other men who had been similarly attracted to that locality, Mr. Michaud took up his residence in Maisonneuve but with neither time nor inclination for public office. The city at that period had a population of seven thousand. Twenty-four liquor licenses had been issued and the town, in modern parlance, was “wide open.” It was a great rendezvous for hundreds of people from Montreal who would go down there on Sundays, the open saloons serving as a great attraction. This disregard of the law and the undesirable notoriety it gave the town aroused the indignation of the better class of citizens, who, however, were powerless, owing to the inactivity of those who were in charge of the city government. Mr. Michaud was one who set about to bring order out of chaos and while his first article in the local papers attracted attention, his second and subsequent ones certainly aroused the opposition of the lawless element whose arrogance had so long held sway. Personal violence was threatened Mr. Michaud and his residence was attacked by a mob that broke every window within reach. Missiles of every description were hurled inside. This cowardly attack instead of intimidating Mr. Michaud, only spurred him on to further action and showed that the Irish blood in him could mean fight--not fight in the brutal sense of the mob but with that courage that comes of honest conviction combined with fearlessness. In the face of such bitter opposition Mr. Michaud became a candidate for alderman, was elected and wielded such an influence in favor of good government and progress that from the time he entered politics to the present he has made a most creditable record. No citizen of Maisonneuve has worked so incessantly or taken greater pride in what has been accomplished. That city today, with forty thousand population, contains but nineteen licensed saloons, all conducted under strict observance of the law. He is, indeed, a resourceful man and in the management of public affairs displays the same spirit of careful watchfulness and wise control that he does in conducting his private interests. He was named by the provincial government a member of the Metropolitan Parks commission of Montreal, of which body Sir William Van Horne is president.

In 1909 Mr. Michaud was the chief factor in the organization of the Dominion Light, Heat & Power Company and during the two years of its successful operation, before being absorbed by the Montreal Public Service Corporation, he was prominently connected with its management. He is a man but little past middle age and his whole capital when starting in life was energy and ambition, yet he has been highly successful, not only in the way of winning prosperity, but also in valuable service to the city and province. He gets much out of life in comfort and pleasure and has never lived solely to accumulate wealth, but has ever been a lover of nature and of outdoor life and it is only severe weather that prevents him from enjoying the four and a half mile walk daily from his office to his home. In the latter his greatest interest centers and he is always happiest when in the company of his family. Mr. Michaud was married February 21, 1898, to Miss Marie Virolle and to them have been born four children: Margaret, Paul, Germaine and Alexander. Mr. Michaud is an indulgent father and the comrade of his children. For a number of years he has spent the summers with his family at Old Orchard, Maine.

JOHN MILNE BROWNING.

In the later years of his life John Milne Browning lived retired in Montreal. He was of Scotch birth, a native of Edinburgh, born in June, 1826. His father, Matthew Browning, died when the son was a young man and the latter, who had been educated in the schools of his native country, came to Canada in 1852, when twenty-six years of age. He located at Beauharnois, where he continued until 1873 and then removed to Montreal, where he resided through the succeeding fifteen years. In 1888 he went to British Columbia, where he lived for eleven years, but on the expiration of that period returned to Montreal, where he spent his remaining days in well earned and honorable retirement from business. He had been a land commissioner and was also connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway Townsite Company. He displayed excellent business ability in that connection and handled important realty interests.

In 1855 Mr. Browning was united in marriage to Miss Magdeline H. Norval, born in 1833, in Beauharnois, Quebec, a daughter of R. H. Norval, who came from Edinburgh when twenty-one years of age and remained thereafter a resident of Canada until his death in 1856. His daughter, Mrs. Browning, has seen Montreal develop from a comparatively small place into a wonderful city, being ever an interested witness of the changes which have occurred. It was on the 20th of December, 1906, that Mr. Browning was called from this life and his loss was mourned in the various localities where he was well and favorably known. He was a member of a number of clubs and won popularity in those organizations. His public spirit found tangible expression in many ways and his religious faith was evidenced in his membership in the Crescent Street Presbyterian church. His life was honorable and upright at all times and he left behind him an untarnished name.

JAMES POWER CLEGHORN.

Prominent for many years among the merchants of Montreal was James Power Cleghorn and equally well was he known through his support of charitable and philanthropic projects and his cooperation in affairs of public benefit. He was born in Montreal, October 31, 1830, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 14th of December, 1911, when he passed away. He was a son of Robert Cleghorn, who came to Montreal at a very early day. The latter married Miss Eliza Power, a native of Sorel, province of Quebec, and whose father was connected with the commissary department of the army. Their family numbered ten children. Robert Cleghorn was a public-spirited citizen and a man of domestic tastes, and the influences of a home of culture and refinement left their impress upon the life of James Power Cleghorn, who with the passing years rose to prominence along the different lines in which he exerted his activities.

He was educated at Howden & Taggart’s Academy and entered commercial circles as junior clerk in the mercantile house of J. G. Mackenzie & Company of Montreal in 1853. In that establishment he gradually worked his way upward until admitted to partnership in 1864, after which he had largely control of the business, which was extensive in proportion and which ranked with the oldest mercantile houses of the city. Mr. Cleghorn, however, did not confine his efforts entirely to one line. In fact he became recognized as a power in other business connections, both commercial and financial, and was elected to the directorate of the Intercolonial Coal Company, the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, the Merchants & Manufacturers Association, the Canada Accident Company and Molson’s Bank. He served as president of the Board of Trade and it was during his incumbency of the office that the site for the present building was selected. He was also a trustee of the Mount Royal Cemetery Association and the president of the Intercolonial Coal Company. His cooperation was likewise sought in behalf of those institutions where humanitarian principles must combine with executive ability in successful management. He was made a governor of the Montreal General Hospital, of the Montreal Hospital for the Insane and the Montreal Dispensary. An active member in the Church of England, he served as a delegate to the synod and cooperated in its work along many helpful lines. In politics he was a conservative and he stood ever for the welfare of the people.

On the 14th of February, 1865, Mr. Cleghorn was married to Miss Anna Spalding, of Port Hope, Ontario, who was born in Peterboro, Ontario. Five children were born to them: George S., connected with the W. R. Brock Company, Limited; C. Power, a general insurance broker, who married Florence Fechheimer, of New York, and to whom have been born two children, James Power and Helen Power; Emily C.; Helen G., who died at the age of thirteen years; and James Herbert, whose death occurred when he was eighteen years of age.

The family residence is at No. 256 Bishop Street, and their summer home, “Blinkbonny” is situated at Como in the province of Quebec. The death of Mr. Cleghorn left a gap in those circles where he had moved as a central figure. In business and social relations and in his connection with humanitarian interests he had established himself in an enviable position by reason of personal worth and capability, and his name is inscribed high on the list of Montreal’s valued citizens.

GEORGE WASHINGTON STEPHENS.

If one would seek a fitting poetical phrase to express the life work of the Hon. George Washington Stephens these lines might well be chosen:

“He leaves a patriot’s name to after times Linked with a thousand virtues and no crimes.”

For an extended period he was in public life, and whether connected with municipal, professional, or national affairs was always the same public-spirited, progressive citizen, ever seeking the welfare of the constituency which he represented. He was born in Montreal in 1832, the second son of Harrison and Sarah (Jackson) Stephens. The father removed from the state of Vermont to Montreal in 1828 and for years was a leading merchant of the city.

George W. Stephens was educated at high school, afterward entering business circles. He became identified with the firm of Law Young & Company, but after a time determined to enter upon professional activities, and with this end in view took up the study of law, following a law course at McGill University, which conferred upon him the B. C. L. degree. Called to the bar in 1863, he at once entered upon active practice and for some time was a partner of the late John A. Perkins, an eminent barrister of Montreal. Mr. Stephens personally conducted the cause celebre of Connolly versus Woolrych, which he brought to a successful conclusion. The case was a notable one, awakening widespread interest among the legal fraternity and establishing the validity of an Indian marriage, celebrated according to the custom of the tribe.

After a number of years devoted to successful law practice, Mr. Stephens was obliged to abandon the profession in order to assume the management of his father’s estate, and proved himself equally capable, sagacious, farsighted and enterprising in that connection. His ability and his devotion to the general welfare led to his selection again and again for public office. In 1868 he was elected alderman of Montreal and for seventeen consecutive years remained a member of the city council, during which period he served on several occasions as acting mayor. He did much during that period toward shaping the policy of city affairs and upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. In fact he became distinguished for his constant opposition to wrong-doing and dishonesty, and his stalwart support of a prudent and economical progressive administration. From the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise he advocated the principles of the liberal party and upon its ticket was elected to the provincial legislature, representing Montreal Centre in the Quebec assembly from 1881 until 1886, and so earnestly and faithfully guarded the public interests as to earn the title “watch dog.” At the general election of 1892 he was returned for Huntingdon and was reelected at the general election in 1897. On the formation of the Marchand administration in May of the latter year he was called into the cabinet, without portfolio. He was the organizer of the Good Government Association of Montreal and in January, 1897, received the thanks of that body for his “vigorous efforts and judicious action” in the Quebec assembly in reference to certain local measures. In 1896 he promoted a measure prohibiting indecent play bills and posters being displayed on the public streets. No one ever questioned the honesty and virtue of his position and his belief. Though others may have differed from him in policy they recognized the patriotic spirit which actuated him in all his public service, and none was more earnest in opposition to misrule in public affairs.

Aside from his active work in the assembly, Mr. Stephens utilized many other opportunities for advancing public progress and improvement. He was at one time a member of the council of the Montreal Board of Trade, was president of the Mercantile Library Association and president of the Citizens Gas Company. He was also a governor of the Montreal General Hospital and of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane. His cooperation could ever be counted upon in support of any measure or plan to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and, as a member of the Unitarian church, he took an active interest in all good works done in the name of charity or religion.

Mr. Stephens married first in 1865, Elizabeth Mary MacIntosh and afterward in 1878, Frances Ramsay MacIntosh, daughter of Nicholas Carnegie MacIntosh, of Edinburgh, Scotland. For many years Mrs. Stephens was president of the Decorative Art Association of Montreal and a recognized leader in social circles. She has accomplished work of far-reaching importances and benefit in connection with the Woman’s Immigrant Society; the Soldiers’ Wives League, which was organized during the South African war; the Maternity Hospital, and the Montreal Cooking School. In religious faith she is a Unitarian and in more strictly social lines is connected with the Canadian Woman’s Club, the Ladies Morning Musical Club and the Royal Montreal Ladies Golf Club. The children are two sons and two daughters: Major G. W. and F. C. Stephens; and Mrs. J. Wedderburn Wilson and Mrs. A. Hamilton Gault.

Mr. Stephens was devoted to his family and ever held friendship inviolable. He belonged to both the St. James and Union Clubs and his military experience covered service as a cavalry major until he was placed on the retired list, his connection being with the Montreal Rifle Rangers. One of the leading newspapers styled him “a liberal of the old school, fearless and brave.” The same qualities characterized him throughout his entire life in every relation, and many who were his associates and contemporaries felt at his passing, which occurred at his country residence, Lac à l’eau Claire, in 1904, that,

“He was a man. Take him for all in all I shall not look upon his like again.”

MAJOR VICTOR EVELYN MITCHELL.

Public opinion accords Major Victor Evelyn Mitchell a position of leadership among the members of the Montreal bar, not only because of his extensive practice and the ability displayed therein, but also because of his contribution to the literature of the profession. His military record also gives him right to public recognition. A native of London, England, he was born October 17, 1865, and is of English lineage, his father having been James Mitchell, of London, England. In the attainment of his education he attended the City of London school and afterward McGill University, where he won his B. C. L. degree and valedictorian honors in 1896. The same year he began practice as an advocate in Montreal with the late R. D. McGibbon, K. C. He had been a resident of Canada for eight years, and thus it was that his preparation for the bar was pursued in McGill. The ability which he has displayed in practice is indicated by the fact that he was created K. C. in 1909. He is now a member of the firm of McGibbon, Casgrain, Mitchell & Casgrain and devotes himself to corporation and commercial law. He published the first English edition of the The Code of Civil Procedure and in conjunction with J. L. Perron, K. C., brought out an Insolvency Manual. He is not unknown in the educational field, having lectured on The Legal Aspects of Trade Unionism and on Warranties and Representations re Contract of Life Insurance. All this establishes his position as a lawyer well versed in his profession and capable in handling intricate and involved legal problems. He is also a well known publicist; his letters to the Montreal Star on the naval question created great interest and showed a thorough knowledge and study of the subject.

Aside from his professional interests Major Mitchell has become known in business circles and in connection with projects of a public or semi-public character. He is a director of Penman’s, Ltd.; the Canadian Consolidated Rubber Company; Ames, Holden, McCready, Ltd.; the Canadian Consolidated Felt Company, Ltd.; the Charlemagne & Lac Ouareau Lumber Company, Ltd.; and many other commercial companies. He is also a director of the Laurentian Sanitarium and a governor of the Montreal General Hospital and the Western Hospital.

For some years Major Mitchell was connected with the volunteer military service, joining the Sixth Fusiliers in 1889, and when that regiment amalgamated with the First Prince of Wales Rifles in 1898 he became senior major in that corps. In 1900 he was placed on the list of retired officers.

Major Mitchell was married in 1911 to Miss Sarah Proulx, and they reside at No. 377 Peel Street. Major Mitchell holds membership with the Anglican church and is well known in club circles, belonging to the St. James, Canada and University Clubs, the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, the Montreal Jockey Club, Outremont Golf Club, Royal Montreal Golf Club, the Manitou Club of Montreal, the Railroad Club and the Alpha Delta Phi Club of New York and the United Empire Club of London, England.

WALTER HARDMAN ARDLEY.

A well known figure in railroad circles of Montreal is Walter Hardman Ardley, who since 1913 has acted as general auditor of the Grand Trunk Railway system and Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. A native of London, England, he was born April 24, 1858, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Dunton) Ardley, the former of whom passed away during the early childhood of his son Walter and the latter in 1896.

Mr. Ardley was educated in the City of London College and made his advent in the business world as an apprentice in a London office. He came to Canada in November, 1882, entering the service of the Grand Trunk Railway, in the chief accountant’s office, on November 5, 1882. Steadiness of purpose, faithfulness and diligence won him advancement. On December 31, 1907, he was made chief clerk and general bookkeeper and so continued until August 31, 1908, when he became auditor of disbursements. He held this office until September 30, 1908, when he became assistant general auditor, and in 1909 he was made general auditor of the Grand Trunk Railway system and Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Mr. Ardley stands high in the estimation of the officers of the road on account of the efficient management of his department.